Fingering Patterns – Minor Scales

In the previous lesson we learned all about the fingering patterns to play the major scales. Hopefully you are beginning to understand that there is symmetry to the guitar and it can help make the instrument seem less complicated.

Major scales have a distinct sound and pattern and so do minor scales. Each minor scale is comprised of a certain set of whole and half steps that form the scale. Where major scales sound bright and happy, minor scales take on a darker tone. When learning the minor scales, think about how they make you feel. Write these emotions down because they can help create the mood of a song or can be used while improvising.

Just as mastering the major scales can help with your improvisational skills and fretboard visualizations, etc so can doing the same with the minor scales. The more scales you know, the richer and more interesting your guitar playing will be.

Instead of memorizing each scale, just know that they all follow a certain pattern. It isn’t important to remember all the notes that are in the scale but doing so will help you memorize the fretboard.

What follows is a list of all the minor scales and the notes that comprise them. As you work through the rest of the lesson, refer back to this list often to help you memorize the notes. But remember not to make note memorization your main focus. The most important thing for now is to learn the patterns and be able to play them accurately. Also keep in mind that the first note is considered the keynote, and that the scales listed below are considered “harmonic minor”. There are also other types of minor scales but we won’t worry about them right now.

Remember, it isn’t necessary to remember all these notes and to spend hours memorizing the list. As you learn the different minor scale patterns and work your way through the neck using these patterns, you will gain a greater understanding of the fretboard and the notes that are on it. Your goal is to know what the note is without thinking about it.

How to Practice the Scales

The most important thing you can do as a beginner is to memorize the scale patterns and not worry a lot about the names of the notes. Once you learn all the minor scale patterns, then you can worry about learning the notes. But for now, achieving command of the pattern itself should be your main goal.

It is also vital to use a metronome. Set it at a speed you are comfortable with while learning the minor scales. Remember not to go too fast at first. One of the problems many guitar players face as they start to play with others is that their sense of timing is off. If you pay attention to this from the beginning it will make you a better play.

A lot of guitar players are also impatient. Everyone has their own reasons why they want to start playing the guitar. Many have a goal of being able to play fast because they think it sounds cool. Well, unless your fast playing is accompanied by technical ability, the speed playing won’t sound good. You can, however, practice this scales slowly at first and build up speed as you progress.

Also, mind your posture. Practice these scales both sitting and standing. Make sure your neck and shoulders are relaxed and your wrists are fairly flat. Get an experienced player to help you check your posture. Sometimes you may not even notice if things are off.

The Minor Scale Patterns

What follows are the actual minor scale patterns. Finger them in a way that is comfortable but in general, the string closest to the low e is usually pressed down with the index finger and so on. However, everyone’s hands are different so it is important to find a system that is comfortable.

Memorize each scale pattern, being careful not to worry too much about learning the note names. You can go back and do that later. After you learn each pattern in the first fret, move on to the second fret, and so on until you’ve mastered the minor scales up and down the neck.

Applying the Scales

Now that you know the patterns for both the major and minor scales, you can start to apply them. Turn on the radio and jam using your scales. This will help develop your ear and give you improvisational skills. Practice your scales as a warm up before you work on your songs. Most importantly, find a routine that will help you become the player you envision.